Alas, NASA is incompetent. They don't seem to have real scientists anymore, people who can do math. NASA has long been pushing the idea of a colony on Mars. Why? Well, its not molten sulphur and it has atmosphere so therefore it should make a great colony. Is that right? That's the theory. Problem is, its a TERRIBLE idea. How do I know that? Well, geology also covers other planets. Key problems with Mars start with its magnetic field. It barely has one. Its got about as much magnetic field as it has atmosphere, 2% of earths. Why should you care? Well, the magnetic field is all that protects us from Solar Storms, Gamma Rays etc. Its also what protects Earth's atmosphere from being stripped off by solar winds. No magnetic field means no POSSIBILITY of a lasting atmosphere. That's what happened to their atmosphere and most of the missing water, alas. Sent off by the solar wind. The magnetic field of earth is powered by our molten-solid NiFe cores interacting, like a Dyanmo generator. Mars is tectonically dead. Venus is not. Venus has a good magnetic field, its just too close to the Sun. If you don't have plate techtonics (or its equivalent), you haven't a hope in hell of having a good magnetic field. No field, no atmosphere, no life. Its pretty damned simple. Mars is also only .40 gee. Not enough mass to attract a good atmosphere. Even if you gave Mars an atmosphere artificially, it wouldn't last. Very pathetic, unfortunately. You've have to make it several hundred miles deep, and it will still blow away on the solar wind.
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NASA Incompetent
9/6/02 23:20 (UTC)That's NASA for you. HOpeless idiots.